Lemon Thyme Bars

Ingredients:

Bars

• Butter to grease the pan
• Flour to dust the pan
• 110 g butter, room temperature
• 1 cup flour
• 2 tablespoons chopped thyme leaves
• 0.5 tsp fine sea salt
• 0.5 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 0.5 tsp vanilla extract

Glaze

• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 0.5 cup powdered sugar

Preparation:

1. Position a rack on the middle shelf of the oven. Preheat the oven to 160°C (325°F). Grease and flour a 20x20 cm (8x8 in) baking pan.

2. Bars:

   
   In a small bowl, combine the flour, thyme, and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 110g of butter and powdered sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 30 seconds. Stir in the lemon juice and vanilla. Reduce the speed to low and gradually whisk in the flour mixture. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and press it into place with damp fingers. Bake for 30 minutes, until golden brown. Cool for 30 minutes.

3. Glaze:

   
   In a medium bowl, combine lemon juice and powdered sugar until smooth. Pour the glaze over the cooled cake. Let the glaze sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour.
4. Using a metal spatula, remove the cake from the pan. Cut into 4cm square bars and arrange them on a serving platter or store them in a plastic container, covered, at room temperature.